Table of Contents
CAT Exam application started on 2nd august and the deadline for CAT Exam application is 13th September 2023. The official CAT notification mentions about the CAT Exam 2023 Registration date and other specific details.
Therefore, all interested candidates who fulfil the eligibility criteria for CAT 2023 can fill out the CAT Exam Application form. The deadline for CAT Registration 2023 is September 13th, 2023.
According to the official CAT notification 2023, there will be three testing slots on November 26, 2023: morning, afternoon, and evening.
To get admission to Top MBA colleges such as IIMs, IITs or other top Business schools in India you must take any entrance exam that is accepted by the institute. CAT exam is accepted at all IIMs in India and at many other top MBA institutes. There are other MBA entrance exams also that you can take to secure admission at top MBA colleges. You can read about them in this article.
The CAT notification 2023 includes all the significant information of the exam, such as important dates for the CAT Exam application and admission processes, eligibility requirements, reservation guidelines, CAT exam 2023 registration fees, and other essential details.
This page will provide you with information regarding CAT 2023 important dates, how to fill out the CAT Exam Application form 2023, the CAT 2023 syllabus, CAT 2023 eligibility criteria, Admission processes at IIMs and other important facts.
If you want to take the CAT exam, then you should be familiar with all of the information in the notification. Read the steps to download the CAT Notification 2023 in this article and read the instructions and contents of CAT registration carefully.
CAT Exam Application Important Details
You will get the essential details such as the exam date, registration deadline, and admission card distribution date in the Official CAT Notification 2023.
The table below summarizes the important details mentioned in CAT official Notification 2023:
| CAT Exam application start date | 2nd August 2023 |
| CAT Exam 2023 fees | Rs. 2400/- unreserved CategoryRs. 1200/- reserved Category |
| Application mode | Online |
| CAT Exam 2023 application form last date | 13th September 2023 |
Steps to Download CAT 2023 Notification Pdf
It is important to carefully read the official notification released in the context of CAT exam 2023. If you want to download the CAT official notification 2023, you can do it by following the below mentioned steps:
To obtain the CAT 2023 notification pdf from the CAT official website, follow the steps below:
- you should first go to the CAT official website iimcat.ac.in and click on the PDF link for the CAT Information Bulletin to download the CAT 2023 notification.
- you can also get additional PDFs of the CAT Eligibility requirements, the IIM Selection Process, and other key information from the CAT official website.
- You can also receive all of the relevant credentials for completing the CAT Exam 2023 application form on iimcat.ac.in, such as scribe affidavits, cast certificates, and disability certificates.
CAT Exam 2023 Highlights
CAT Exam is a national-level entrance exam for getting admission to MBA colleges in India. It is CBT based exam with negative markings for each incorrect answer. In this exam, you get to solve both MCQ and non – MCQ questions. It has total of 3 sections with total number of questions being 66 and time duration being 120 minutes.
Read the full details of the CAT exam question paper in the table below:
| CAT Full form | Common Admission Test |
| Total no. of Questions | 66 questions (3 sections) |
| Types of Questions | MCQ and TITA - Type in the Answer |
| Marking Scheme for CAT | -1 for each wrong answer in MCQ+3 for each correct answer in MCQ(no negative marking for TITA) |
| Total sections in paper | 3 sections – VARC, DILR, QA |
| Total Questions in VARC | 24 |
| Total Questions in DILR | 20 |
| Total Questions in QA | 22 |
| Total marks | 198 marks |
| Conducted by | IIM Lucknow |
| CAT 2023 official website | iimcat.ac.in |
What is CAT exam?
The CAT Exam is a computer-based test for students who are looking for postgraduate management admission to top MBA colleges in India. On a yearly basis, one of the Indian Institutes of Management administers the CAT test.
Doing MBA from a reputed college can completely change your career and your future.
You will have three sections to complete in this exam: verbal ability and reading comprehension (VARC), data interpretation and logical reasoning (DILR), and quantitative ability (QA). Each of the section gets 40 minutes of time to complete. The online CBT exam lasts 2 hours.
The IIMs have not released the CAT exam 2023 syllabus, but the CAT exam 2022 syllabus gives an idea of the exam pattern. The paper will consist of 66 questions, with a time limit of 120 minutes (2 hours) to finish it.
The CAT exam 2023 registration fees is Rs. 2400 for unreserved students and Rs. 1200 for Reserved Category students.
Check CAT Exam 2023 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| CAT exam 2023 registration date | 2nd of August 2023 |
| CAT exam application form last date | 13th September 2023 |
| Admit card release date | 25th October 2023 |
| CAT 2023 exam date | 26th November 2023 |
| CAT 2023 Result | In January (tentative) |
Previous year CAT Exam Question Paper – Pattern
| Sections | Total Questions | MCQs | TITA Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 21 | 3 |
| DILR | 20 | 14 | 6 |
| QA | 22 | 14 | 8 |
| Total | 66 | 49 | 17 |
CAT 2023 Exam Pattern Overview
See the table below. It gives an overview of the CAT 2023 Exam Pattern
| Total questions in CAT 2023 | 66 |
| Total sections in paper | 3 sections – VARC, DILR, QA |
| Total time duration | 2 hours |
| Total Questions in VARC (40 minutes) | 24 (34%-36% of CAT 2023 score) |
| Total Questions in DILR (40 minutes) | 20 (32%-34% of CAT 2023 score) |
| Total Questions in QA (40 minutes) | 22 (34% of CAT 2023 score) |
| Total marks | 198 marks |
CAT 2023 Exam Syllabus
There are numerous topics and chapters in the CAT Exam 2023 Syllabus, including arithmetic, geometry, mensuration, logical reasoning, reading comprehension, and so on.
To earn a high score in the CAT Exam, you must have a strong vocabulary, a solid maths foundation, good arithmetic skills, quick calculating techniques and better time management.
The table below summarizes the CAT 2023 Exam Syllabus.
| Section | Questions | Important Topics |
|---|---|---|
| VARC (34-36%) | 24 (30% VA and 70% RC) | Jumbled Paragraph Questions, Reading Comprehension Questions, Para Summary Questions, Para Completion Questions, Odd-sentence-out Questions |
| DILR (32-34%) | 20 (50% DI and 50% LR) | Logical Sequence, Connectives, MatchingBar Graphs, Line Charts, Venn Diagram, Column GraphSyllogismPie Charts, cubesCalendars and ClocksBlood RelationsNumber and Letter SeriesBinary LogicCaseletsSeating Arrangement etc. |
| QA (34%) | 22 (arithmetic has high weightage) | Number SystemsHCF & LCMProfit, Loss and Discount, Coordinate Geometry, Sequence and Series, Geometry, Mixtures and Alligations, Time & Work, Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations etc. |
CAT Exam 2023 and Important Points
The CAT 2023 will take place in three slot timings:
- Morning Shift
- Afternoon Shift
- Evening Shift
- You will have access to an on-screen calculator in the exam room; personal calculators are not permitted.
- A digital clock will be displayed on the screen for your convenience. In the examination room, personal watches are not authorized.
- Students will be given rough sheets for rough work, which must be submitted in the exam room at the end of the exam.
- Practice papers are available on the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in. You will be able to access it once the paper has been uploaded to the CAT official website.
CAT Exam 2023 Eligibility
The registration for the CAT exam 2023 began on August 2, 2023, and the registration deadline is September 13, 2023. In order to take the CAT exam in 2023 and pursue an MBA from one of India's top business schools, you must meet the CAT exam eligibility requirements.
The following are the most important details about CAT exam eligibility in 2023. Check here to see if you are eligible for the CAT 2023 exam:
- You must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited university in any field (commerce, science, or the arts), with a minimum aggregate score of 50% if you are from an unreserved category and 45% if you are from a reserved category.
- If you are in your final year of college, you may still apply for the IIM CAT exam 2023, but you must submit the appropriate documents of your academic history within the administration's time frame.
- There is no upper age limit for the CAT 2023 exam.
You are qualified to apply for this exam if you meet all of the CAT 2023 eligibility standards given above, regardless of your age or the subject you studied in your bachelor's degree.
CAT Exam Application Form Registration Process
How to register to CAT 2023?
The registration process for CAT 2023 is detailed here. The cat exam 2023 application form last date is September 13th.
Read through the CAT 2023 Registration procedure to get a better understanding of the process and to avoid making mistakes when filling out the application form.
www.iimcat.ac.in is the CAT official website. It is open for registration from 10:00 a.m. on August 2, 2023 and will close after 5:00 p.m. on September 13, 2023.
The following is the registration process for CAT 2023:
Step 1: First of all you need to get yourself registered to create an individual User ID and Password.
Step 2: Then enter the generated User ID and Password and log in to the portal.
Step 3: Submit the application form after filling it out and paying the fees online to complete the registration and application procedure.
Applicants will be unable to make changes once payment has been received and the application form has been submitted.
Print the application form after it has been submitted.
Make sure to register before the CAT exam 2023 application form last date which is September 13th.
Documents Required for CAT 2023 Exam Registration
- Class 10th and 12th mark sheet
- secondary education and a bachelor's degree.
- Work experience certificate, if any
- passport-size photo (The photo should not be 6 months old).
- Scanned signature
- Use Debit/Credit cards, Net Banking, or other payment methods
Both the signature and the passport size photo should be scanned,
Both files must be in.jpg or.jpeg format and not larger than 80 KB in size.
A clear image with a resolution of at least 150px is necessary.
Admission Process at IIMs
Check out the following important points about the IIM admissions process:
CAT acts as the primary element in IIM admission. Then the other important factors are exam score, academic achievements, and personal interview.
Your performance in the three essential factors listed above will determine whether you are admitted to an IIM
The IIM Admissions Process is divided into three parts. These are:
- The first step is to obtain CAT exam results.
- The second stage is the IIMs conducting individual interviews.
- The IIMs WAT & PI 2024 Final Selection Process is the third step.
Your final admission offer will be determined by how well you perform in each of the three above-mentioned IIM phases.
How has the CAT Exam Pattern changed over the years?
The CAT Exam pattern has not always been the same. There has been a lot of changes in this exam over the years. The no. of questions, time duration of the exam has changed time to time.
The CAT 2022 exam pattern reveals that the CAT question paper had a moderate level of difficulty, with a total of 66 questions. The number of questions in the CAT exam in 2021 was also 66, whereas the question paper in 2020 had 76 in total.
The CAT exam schedule has shifted dramatically in recent years. The following chart shows the changes of the CAT question paper pattern over the years:
| CAT exam for the year | Time duration | Total No. of question in CAT Exam |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 140 minutes | 60 |
| 2013 | 140 minutes | 60 |
| 2014 | 170 minutes | 100 |
| 2015 | 180 minutes | 100 |
| 2016 | 180 minutes | 100 |
| 2017 | 180 minutes | 100 |
| 2018 | 180 minutes | 100 |
| 2019 | 180 minutes | 100 |
| 2020 | 120 minutes | 76 |
| 2021 | 120 minutes | 66 |
| 2022 | 120 minutes | 66 |
In addition to the CAT, other MBA entrance exams such as the XAT, SNAP, ATMA, CMAT and others can be used to get admission to top MBA programs. Please check the table below for more information about other admission tests:
What other MBA admission exams are there?
Not only CAT gets you to Top MBA institutes in India. There are some additional MBA entrance tests that are held around India for MBA students seeking admission to best MBA institutions. In addition to the CAT, other entrance exams are included here, along with the total number of questions, exam timing, and official website where you can register.
| Entrance Exam | No. of Questions and time duration | Time allotted to candidates | Official Website to register |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATMA | 180 | 180 minutes | atmaaims.com |
| XAT | 102 | 210 minutes | xatonline.in |
| IIFT | 110 | 120 minutes | www.iift.ac.in |
| NMAT by GMAC | 108 | 120 minutes | www.mba.com/en-in/exams/nmat |
| SNAP | 60 | 60 minutes | www.snaptest.org |
| GMAT | 80 | 187 minutes | www.mba.com |
| PGDBA | 50 | 180 minutes | www.pgdba.iitkgp.ac.in |
| IBSAT | 140 | 120 minutes | ibsindia.org/admissions/ |
| GATE | 65 | 180 minutes | app.gate.iitk.ac.in |
DOWNLOAD CAT 2023 Mock Test
In order to thoroughly prepare for the CAT exam 2023 and achieve a high percentile, you should undoubtedly take a large number of mock exams and put in a lot of practice time. Doing Mock papers is the best preparation plan for clearing competitive exams.
The CAT Mock papers are based on the most recent CAT test format and is comparable to the real exam. Taking practice examinations can be the most effective way for you to prepare for the CAT exam in 2023.
The majority of top students at IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, and IIM Kozhikode consider mock CAT tests as the most crucial component of CAT preparation. They advise taking a large number of simulated tests that are identical to the real thing and going over your faults in each one.
You can download the CAT mock papers from the CAT official website once it is uploaded on it.
DOWNLOAD CAT 2023 Admit Card
The CAT 2023 admit card is an essential requirement for the exam day. Candidates who have applied can access their CAT 2023 exam admit cards online by logging in.
To receive your CAT 2023 admit card, follow these steps:
- Only registered students will be able to access their CAT 2023 admit card.
- Candidates can obtain and print their CAT 2023 admit card by going to iimcat.ac.in and signing in with their CAT ID and password.
- The admit card will include information about the CAT 2023 exam location, date, and time.
- Check your admit card twice before going to the exam centre.
CAT Exam 2023 preparation tips
How to prepare for CAT exam 2023?
Mostly CAT aspirants, begin their preparation as soon as possible. If you're not sure where to begin your CAT 2023 preparation, read the following preparation advice.
The CAT exam is divided into three sections, each of which takes hard effort and perseverance to complete the syllabus and ideas. You need to practice enough to be able to attempt all three sections of the CAT exam within the allotted time that is 40 minutes for each section.
Keep in mind that simply finishing the syllabus is insufficient, you must also practice as many mock papers as possible.
Toppers from IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Kozhikode, and other top MBA universities have stated that CAT preparation requires as much mock paper practice as possible. Mock papers can assist you recognize your shortcomings and weak points so you can improve.
Another benefit of taking practice exams is that you will have enough practice to pass the exam in the allotted time period.
Check out the preparatory tips below and get started with your preparation as soon as possible.
- Get an overview of the CAT 2023 Syllabus
- Choose either online or offline coaching whichever is best suited for you
- Clear your basics with no doubts unsolved
- Do not skip any single topic from CAT 2023 syllabus
- You can also make notes for quick revision
- Time management is very crucial
- Mock papers and practice papers are must
- Be determined and try to stay away from distractions.
What are the Top MBA Colleges in India Accepting CAT Score?
| S. No. | MBA Colleges in India Accepting CAT score | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IIM Ahmedabad | Gujarat |
| 2 | IIM Bangalore | Karnataka |
| 3 | IIM Kozhikode | Kerala |
| 4 | IIM Calcutta | West Bengal |
| 5 | Indian Institute of Technology Delhi | Delhi |
| 6 | IIM Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh |
| 7 | National Institute of Industrial Engineering | Maharashtra |
| 8 | IIM Indore | Madhya Pradesh |
| 9 | XLRI-Xavier School of Management | Jharkhand |
| 10 | Indian Institute of Technology Bombay | Maharashtra |
| 11 | IIM Raipur | Chhattisgarh |
| 12 | IIM Rohtak | Haryana |
| 13 | Management Development Institute | Haryana |
| 14 | Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur | West Bengal |
| 15 | Indian Institute of Technology Madras | Tamil Nadu |
| 16 | IIM Udaipur | Rajasthan |
| 17 | Symbiosis Institute of Business Management | Maharashtra |
| 18 | Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee | Uttarakhand |
| 19 | IIM Kashipur | Uttarakhand |
| 20 | S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research | Maharashtra |
Frequently Asked Questions about CAT Exam Application- Notification Out, Exam Date, etc
Q. Why is CAT exam important?
Ans. The CAT Exam is a computer-based test for students who are looking for postgraduate management admission to top MBA colleges in India. On a yearly basis, one of the Indian Institutes of Management administers the CAT test.
Doing MBA from a reputed college can completely change your career and your future.
Q. When is the CAT exam application form last date?
Ans. CAT Exam application started on 2nd august and the deadline for CAT Exam application is 13th September 2023.
Q. What are the documents requires for CAT 2023 Application form?
Ans. Documents requires for CAT 2023 Application form mention below:
- Class 10th and 12th mark sheet
- secondary education and a bachelor's degree.
- Work experience certificate, if any
- passport-size photo (The photo should not be 6 months old).
- Scanned signature
- Use Debit/Credit cards, Net Banking, or other payment methods
Both the signature and the passport size photo should be scanned,
Both files must be in.jpg or.jpeg format and not larger than 80 KB in size.
A clear image with a resolution of at least 150px is necessary.
Q. Where can I check CAT 2023 Important dates?
Ans. CAT official website has released the notification. You can check the CAT important dates at the CAT official Website or you can also check the important dates related to CAT 2023 in the table below:
| CAT 2023 Events | Date |
|---|---|
| CAT Exam 2023 Registration start date | 2nd of August 2023 |
| CAT form Last date 2023 | 13th September 2023 |
| Admit card release date | 25th October 2023 |
| CAT 2023 Exam date | 26th November 2023 |
| CAT 2023 Result | In January (tentative) |
Q. How is the admission process at IIM 2023?
Ans. Check out the following important points about the IIM admissions process:
CAT acts as the primary element in IIM admission. The other important factors are exam scores, academic achievements, and personal interviews.
Your performance in the three essential factors listed above will determine whether you are admitted to an IIM
The IIM Admissions Process is divided into three parts. These are:
- The first step is to obtain CAT exam results.
- The second stage is the IIMs conducting individual interviews.
- The IIMs WAT & PI 2024 Final Selection Process is the third step.
Your final admission offer will be determined by how well you perform in each of the three above-mentioned IIM phases.
Q. What is the CAT 2023 exam pattern?
Ans. See the table below. It gives an overview of the CAT 2023 Exam Pattern
| Total questions in CAT 2023 | 66 |
| Total sections in paper | 3 sections – VARC, DILR, QA |
| Total time duration | 2 hours |
| Total Questions in VARC (40 minutes) | 24 (34%-36% of CAT 2023 score) |
| Total Questions in DILR (40 minutes) | 20 (32%-34% of CAT 2023 score) |
| Total Questions in QA (40 minutes) | 22 (34% of CAT 2023 score) |
| Total marks | 198 marks |
Q. What is VARC syllabus in CAT 2023?
Ans. VARC syllabus is listed below:
- Jumbled Paragraph Questions,
- Reading Comprehension Questions,
- Para Summary Questions,
- Para Completion Questions,
- Odd-sentence-out Questions
Q. What is DILR syllabus in CAT 2023?
Ans. DILR syllabus is mentioned below:
- Logical Sequence, Connectives, Matching
- Bar Graphs, Line Charts, Venn Diagram, Column Graph
- Syllogism
- Pie Charts, cubes
- Calendars and Clocks
- Blood Relations
- Number and Letter Series
- Binary Logic
- Caselets
- Seating Arrangement etc.
Q. What is the Eligibility for CAT exam 2023?
Ans. The following are the most important details about CAT exam eligibility in 2023. Check here to see if you are eligible for the CAT 2023 exam:
- You must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited university in any field (commerce, science, or the arts), with a minimum aggregate score of 50% if you are from an unreserved category and 45% if you are from a reserved category.
- If you are in your final year of college, you may still apply for the IIM CAT exam 2023, but you must submit the appropriate documents of your academic history within the administration's time frame.
- There is no upper age limit for the CAT 2023 exam.
You are qualified to apply for this exam if you meet all of the CAT 2023 eligibility standards given above, regardless of your age or the subject you studied in your bachelor's degree.
Q. What is QA syllabus in CAT 2023?
Ans. The quant is one of the toughest section in CAT exam. You need to practice very hard for this section. Some of the topics of Quant section are listed below:
- Number Systems
- HCF & LCM
- Profit, Loss and Discount
- Coordinate Geometry
- Sequence and Series
- Geometry
- Mixtures and Alligations
- Time & Work
- Linear Equations
- Quadratic Equations etc.
Q. What are the Top MBA Colleges in India Accepting CAT?
Ans. Top MBA Colleges in India Accepting CAT are mentioned below:
| S. No. | MBA Colleges in India Accepting CAT | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IIM Ahmedabad | Gujarat |
| 2 | IIM Bangalore | Karnataka |
| 3 | IIM Kozhikode | Kerala |
| 4 | IIM Calcutta | West Bengal |
| 5 | Indian Institute of Technology Delhi | Delhi |
| 6 | IIM Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh |
| 7 | National Institute of Industrial Engineering | Maharashtra |
| 8 | IIM Indore | Madhya Pradesh |
| 9 | XLRI-Xavier School of Management | Jharkhand |
| 10 | Indian Institute of Technology Bombay | Maharashtra |
Q. What was the pattern of CAT question paper in 2022?
Ans. The CAT Exam previous year question paper pattern is shown in the table below:
| Sections | Total Questions | MCQs | TITA Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 21 | 3 |
| DILR | 20 | 14 | 6 |
| QA | 22 | 14 | 8 |
| Total | 66 | 49 | 17 |
Q. How can I download CAT 2023 Mock papers?
Ans. In order to thoroughly prepare for the CAT exam 2023 and achieve a high percentile, you should undoubtedly take a large number of mock exams and put in a lot of practice time. Doing Mock papers is the best preparation plan for clearing competitive exams.
The CAT Mock papers are based on the most recent CAT test format and is comparable to the real exam. Taking practice examinations can be the most effective way for you to prepare for the CAT exam in 2023.
The majority of top students at IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, and IIM Kozhikode consider mock CAT tests as the most crucial component of CAT preparation. They advise taking a large number of simulated tests that are identical to the real thing and going over your faults in each one.
You can download the CAT mock papers from the CAT official website once it is uploaded on it.
Q. How can I download the CAT 2023 Admit Card?
Ans. The CAT 2023 admit card is an essential requirement for the exam day. Candidates who have applied can access their CAT 2023 exam admit cards online by logging in.
To receive your CAT 2023 admit card, follow these steps:
- Only registered students will be able to access their CAT 2023 admit card.
- Candidates can obtain and print their CAT 2023 admit card by going to iimcat.ac.in and signing in with their CAT ID and password.
- The admit card will include information about the CAT 2023 exam location, date, and time.
- Check your admit card twice before going to the exam centre.
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